Start with $300, add $300 monthly for 30 years, and you’ll accumulate $108,000. But here’s how much you’ll have by compounding at various interest rates:

2 percent — $147,622.

5 percent — $245,609.

10 percent — $623,787.

The lesson? Saving is important, but what you earn on your savings is super important.

Unfortunately, today there’s no way to earn anything close to 10 percent in an insured savings account. In fact, it’s tough to earn 2 percent. The only way to get higher returns is to take some risk, like that offered by stocks.

Depending on how you measure it, stocks have averaged 8 percent to 10 percent annually over the last 100 years. Of course, stocks entail risk; that’s why they pay more. But avoiding risk creates a different one — the risk of not having enough to survive your retirement years.

So learning about stocks is important. And it’s not rocket science. In fact, you can learn everything you need to know in this one article. Let’s start with this recent video:

Over the decades, Wall Street has spent billions in advertising to convince Main Street we’re not smart enough to invest without paying them for advice. This is a lie, perpetuated for no other reason than to line their pockets with our cash.

All you need to do is follow these rules.

Rule No. 1: Long-term money only

If stocks didn’t pay more than less-risky alternatives over time, they wouldn’t exist.

But the key words in that sentence are “over time.” When it comes to stocks, the longer your investment horizon, the lower the risk.

Day trading is exceedingly risky because nobody knows what’s going to happen on any given day. Investing in quality stocks over decades carries far less risk, because historically quality companies become more valuable over time, and so do their shares.

That’s why you should never expose money to stocks that you’ll need within five years. And that’s the minimum.

Rule No. 2: Moderation

Because the stock market is risky, it’s not the basket for all your eggs.

In the video above, I suggest subtracting your age from 100, and putting no more than the resulting percentage of your long-term savings into stocks. So if you’re 25, 100 minus 25 equals 75 percent in stocks. If you’re 75, you’d only use stocks for 25 percent of your savings.

But as I also said, that’s just a rule of thumb. If you’re nervous, you’ve invested too much.

Rule No. 3: Use mutual funds

I like buying individual stocks (you can see my online portfolio here) but it’s not necessary, or for most people, advisable. You can do perfectly well with a mutual fund, while at the same time lowering your risk and reducing your hassle.

What’s a mutual fund? A giant pool of investments. It could be a pool of stocks: a stock fund. It could be a pool of bonds: a bond fund. Or it could have both stocks and bonds: a balanced fund. The appeal of mutual funds is threefold:

A mutual fund allows you to spread the inherent risk of stock investing by diversifying among a bunch of stocks instead of investing in just a few.

Mutual funds have people who do the buying and selling.

Mutual funds keep track of a lot of the paperwork for you.

Which mutual fund to buy?

Owning an index fund is like owning the entire stock market, as represented by an index, like the S&P 500. Since all an index fund manager has to do is buy the stocks in the index, a chimpanzee could do it. And because management is simple, the fees charged are minimal.

Actively managed funds, as the name implies, employ wizards claiming they can outperform indexes like the S&P. For their expertise, they demand higher fees.

The sad truth — proven in many, many studies — is that active management often fails to do as well as index investing. For example, in the recent article “Only 24 Percent of Active Mutual Fund Managers Outperform the Market Index,” NerdWallet says that over the last 10 years, the average return of actively managed mutual funds was 6.5 percent, while index funds returned 7.3 percent.

There are two reasons wizards so seldom beat indexes. First, there is no Stanford degree that includes a crystal ball. Second, the higher fees charged by active managers reduce the fund’s returns. In other words, if a fund goes up 8 percent, but charges a fee of 2 percent — not uncommon — you’re left with only 6 percent.

The index I personally use in my retirement account is the Vanguard 500 Index Fund. It charges only 0.17 percent in fees and the minimum investment is $3,000. Another way to invest is through exchange traded funds or ETFs. These are mutual funds that trade on exchanges like stocks, and their expenses are even lower. The Vanguard 500 ETF, for example, charges only 0.05 percent in fees. You can buy as little as one share ($72 as I write this) but you’ll have to open a brokerage account and pay a commission when you buy or sell.

Rule No. 4: No trying to time the market

Try to time the market and you’ll likely find yourself on the sidelines when the market takes off — and over-invested when it crashes.

The best way to approach stocks is also the simplest: Dollar cost averaging, also known as systematic investing. All you have to do is invest fixed amounts, like $100, at regular intervals, such as monthly. This method works for a simple reason: It automatically buys more shares when they’re cheap, and fewer when they’re not. Consider this six-month example assuming a monthly investment of $100:

Date

Investment

Price

Shares purchased

January

$100

$10

10

February

$100

$8

12.5

March

$100

$15

6.7

April

$100

$7

14.3

May

$100

$8

12.5

June

$100

$10

10

Totals

$600

66

Result

$600

$660

When you start, the price is $10, so your C-note buys 10 shares. The next month the price drops to $8, so that same 100 bucks buys 12½ shares. In the third month, the price zooms to $15, so your money buys only 6.7 shares. Yada, yada, yada … six months go by. At the end, the fund is back where it started: 10 bucks. But you’ve accumulated 66 shares, now worth $660. You’ve made 10 percent on your money, even though the fund is exactly where it started.

How did this happen? Because your investment was fixed, you automatically bought more shares when prices were low and fewer when prices were high.

Final rule: There are no rules

There’s a reason for the expression “No risk, no reward.” Whether it’s money, life or love, you can’t win without the risk of losing. The trick is to minimize potential nightmares by being smart about it.

There’s no rule saying you have to invest in stocks. If you don’t like stocks, try something else. Real estate, side business, peer-to-peer lending, collectibles: There are lots of ways to beat the bank. Sure, they may involve more risk, time, energy and knowledge than a savings account. But the rewards can change your life.

Financial solutions for seniors:

SanDisk Outlet Store takes an extra 17% off its selection of items, already reduced by up to 75% off, via coupon code "LABORDAY17". Shipping starts at $6, but orders of $75 or more qualify for free shipping. Items on offer include flash drives, memory cards, and cables.

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Updated: 4 days 2 hr ago

For in-store pickup only, Lowe's offers the Kobalt Garage Storage System for $7.49. That's $22 off and the lowest price we could find. It fits on on Kobalt garage tool bases and measures 27" x 18". Deal ends October 18.

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Updated: 1 week 2 days ago

Today, Apple announced its new iPhone X, which includes an all-new 5.8" Super Retina OLED display that stretches nearly edge to edge without a bezel. You can now tap the display to wake up the phone, and unlock it using Face ID. It has an A11 Bionic chip neural engine, 12-megapixel dual rear camera with dual OIS, wireless charging, Bluetooth 5.0, and water and dust resistance. It comes in 64GB and 256GB models from $999.

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Updated: 2 weeks ago

Backcountry cuts up to 55% off a selection of The North Face men's, women's, and kids' apparel, shoes, and accessories. (Prices are as marked.) Plus, take an extra 20% off when you add to cart. That beats August's mention of just an extra 15% off and is the best sale we've seen on these items all year. Shipping starts at $5.95, but orders of $50 or more qualify for free 2-day shipping. After discount, accessories start as low as $10.38, men's T-shirts at $11.17, men's jackets at $41.58, and women's jackets at $55.41. Size availability for many items is limited.

Backcountry cuts up to 55% off a selection of The North Face men's, women's, and kids' apparel, shoes, and accessories. ... Read
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Updated: 4 days 8 hr ago

As part of a class action lawsuit, those who received pre-recorded telemarketing calls from Resort Marketing Group (RMG) between July 2009 and March 2014 may be entitled to monetary compensation. The suit alleges that RMG violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act by making pre-recorded calls without express consent. Click here to read more about how to make a claim. Claims must be filed by November 3.

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Updated: August 14, 2017

As part of a class action lawsuit, customers who purchased certain Honest Diapering, Cleaning, or Personal care products between January 17, 2012 and July 10, 2017 may be entitled to cash compensation. The suit alleges that Honest engaged in deceptive practices in their advertising and labeling of products. Eligible customers can receive $2.50 for each item with proof of purchase, and up to ten items without proof of purchase. Click here to find out more information. Claims must be submitted by October 23.

Walmart continues to discount thousands of items as part of its End of Summer Clearance Sale. Opt for in-store pickup ... Read
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Updated: 5 days 3 hr ago

At P.F. Chang's, buy one entrée and get a second entrée of equal or lesser value for free when you fill out this short form. (You'll receive this offer via email.) That's tied with our mention from a month ago as the best entrée freebie we've seen from P.F. Chang's. (We've seen BOGO entrées several times before, but it's usually restricted to specific entrées.) It's valid for dine-in only for 14 days from offer sign-up date. Click here to find a location near you.

If you'd rather dine solo (or maybe just make your lunch buddy buy their own darn meal for once), you can also get an entrée salad paired with a cup of soup for $10. It's also only valid for dine-in; just mention the offer to your server to redeem. (Offer only applies to the Asian Caesar, Mandarin Crunch, and Vietnamese Noodle salads.) This deal ends September 26.

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Updated: 21 hr 45 min ago

Abercrombie & Fitch cuts up to 50% off sale items and up to 70% off clearance. (Prices are as marked.) Shipping adds $7, but orders of $75 or more net free shipping. Women's swimwear starts at $4.40, men's fragrance at $3.50, women's jeans at $18 $29, and men's jeans at $35.99.

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Updated: 2 weeks 6 days ago

Fall is on the horizon and we're restocking our closets with all things warm and wintry in preparation for the cooler weather. That's made all the easier this month thanks to the wide selection of end-of-season sales coming your way. Steep & Cheap is leading the pack too, not only with The North Face sale we listed yesterday, but again with big discounts on last season's Patagonia apparel.

The store is knocking up to 65% off a wide selection of Patagonia outerwear, pants, backpacks, and more in last season's colors, with prices starting at $11.60. Shipping starts at $6.31. A couple of best bets from the sale (you will see these prices in the drop-down menu when you select your color on the product page):

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Updated: 1 day 4 hr ago

Retail chain Toys"R"Us has filed for bankruptcy in the United States and Canada. Per reports from several news outlets, the 60-year-old company has racked up nearly $5 billion in debt. There are currently 1,600 Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us retail locations worldwide, which are expected to operate as usual for now.

Lids takes up to 75% off a selection of NCAA, NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and other clearance caps, with prices starting at $5. (Select styles may have an even larger discount.) Plus, all orders bag free shipping. (It usually adds $5 for orders under $50.) That beats yesterday's mention (which lacked the free shipping offer) and is the best sale we've seen on these items at Lids this year. Deal ends September 27. A couple of best bets:

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Updated: 2 days 23 hr ago

At Best Buy, buy one select Blu-ray or 4K Blu-ray movie and get a second movie of equal or lesser value for free. Plus, get an additional $1 off, dropping prices to as low as $6.99, when you order via in-store pickup using the instructions below. Eligible titles include The Secret Life of Pets, Jason Bourne, Jurassic World, Baseketball, and several multi-movie sets. To get all discounts:

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Updated: 1 week ago

StackSocial offers the HBQ i7 Twins True Wireless Earphones in White or Black for $29.99 with free shipping. That's $20 off and the lowest price we could find. They feature 4-5 hours of play time, hands-free calling, and lag-free connections. Deal ends October 6.

Today, Apple unveiled its new iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus models. Available in Silver, Space Grey, and Gold, it now has both a glass front and back, with an overall steel-reinforced design. They have a 4.7" and 5.5" Retina HD display, respectively, as well as a new A11 Bionic 6-core CPU. Also included is a 12-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization on both models (dual camera on the Plus model), Bluetooth 5.0, wireless charging, and water and dust resistance. It'll come in 64GB and 256GB options, from $699 for the iPhone 8, and from $799 for the 8 Plus.

It can be ordered starting September 15, for delivery on September 22.

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Updated: 2 weeks ago

Spring offers the Kenneth Cole New York Men's Tag Em Leather Sneakers in Cognac for $39.97. Coupon code "STOCKUP20" cuts that to $31.98. With free shipping, that's $24 under last month's mention and the lowest price we could find by $17. They're available in select sizes from 7 to 8 10. Deal ends September 27.

Pop Chart Lab cuts a selection of 18" x 24" posters to $10 via coupon code "5PRINTS410", as listed below. (Choose "Print Only" under finishes to see this deal.) With $6.95 for shipping, that's $19 off list and the lowest price we could find. Each poster is printed on 100-lb. archival stock. The deals:

ThinkGeek takes up to 80% off a wide selection of items as part of its Fall Blowout Clearance. Shipping starts at $5.95, or spend $75 or more for free shipping. Shop for home goods, apparel, and accessories from popular franchises such as Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Star Wars, Star Trek, and many more.

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Updated: 1 week ago

Today, Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 3. The newest version of Apple's smartwatch features built-in cellular, to allow for phone calls without the need to pair with your phone, as well as a new W2 dual-core processor that enables Siri to talk on your watch. It also has an altimeter and remains the same size as the Series 2. With cellular, the new Apple Watch starts at $399, and it can be had without cellular for $329.

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Updated: 2 weeks ago

Walmart discounts a selection of garage and storage rollbacks, with prices starting from $12.70. Choose in-store pickup to avoid the $5.99 shipping fee, or get free shipping on orders of $35 or more. (Oversized items may have additional fees.) A couple of best bets:

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Updated: 5 hr 36 min ago

United Airlines via ShermansTravel offers United Airlines Roundtrip Flights to select West Coast U.S. Cities, with prices starting from $82.40. (On the ShermansTravel landing page, click on "United.com" in the main paragraph to see this sale.) That's the lowest price we could find for select routes today by at least $10. Book this travel deal by September 30.

All prices, dates, and booking details were valid at the time of publication.